Doctor: NJ Gov. Chris Christie ‘fit to serve’

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) – Gov. Chris Christie has “no medical limitations” and is fit to serve as governor, his doctor said in a report released Friday that said the admittedly overweight governor has adopted a healthy lifestyle and steadily shed pounds since undergoing gastric bypass surgery.

The governor, who is 51, had promised to release his medical records during a debate three weeks ago with his Democratic opponent, Barbara Buono.

Christie is seeking a second term in the election to be held Nov. 5. He’s also a potential candidate for president in 2016, having refused to rule out such a run during the same debate he said he would make his medical records public.

Christie’s cardiovascular test results were normal, according to the two-page letter from his cardiologist, Dr. Rachana Kulkarni, who said the governor has been under his care since January 2012.

The doctor said Christie has had a history of hypertension for the past two years and asthma for the last 30 years but that “both conditions are well-controlled under his current medical regimen.”

The governor recognizes he is overweight, the doctor wrote, but has taken a number of steps in response, including undergoing gastric bypass surgery in February, adopting a healthy diet and exercising four days a week for an hour at a time.

“He is able to finish the workout without any limitations,” the doctor said.

Christie has steadily lost weight since undergoing gastric bypass surgery in February, the doctor said, without citing either his starting weight or current weight.

The governor, who is noticeably thinner, recently said he was more than halfway toward his weight-loss goal.

Christie has been “very compliant with his treatment and follow-ups and has taken all the measures towards primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases by aggressive management of his risk factors,” the doctor wrote.

“He has no medical limitations and is fit to serve as the governor of the state of New Jersey,” the doctor concluded.

Buono released her medical records last week, showing she was in excellent health.

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